Produce washer



Aug- 4, 1942- 1 .,H. PLA-r1' ET AL 2,292,240

PRODUCE` WASHER A118,- 4, 1942.` l.. H; PLATT ET AL, 2,292,240

f PRODUCE'WASHER Filed March 22, 1941 I 6 Sheets-Sheetl 2 A1124, 1942. Y l.. H. PLATT Em 2,292,240

PRODUCE WASHER Filed March 22, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 www@ Aug. 4, `1942. L. H. PLATT ET AL PRODUCE WASHER Filed March 22, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug'- l1942. L. H. 'eL/m TAAL 2,292,240

A PRODUCE WASHER Filed March 22; 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 zjgff. frime/liars MMM@ Patented Aug. 4, 1942 PRODUCE. WASHER Leland H. Platt and Leland H. Platt, Jr., West Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 22, 1941, Serial No. 384,688

3 Claims. ('Cl. 146-194) 'I'his invention relates generally to produce washers, particularly to washers for such produce as lettuce and the like which requires trimming prior to Washing and packing, and which may be thoroughly and effectively washed by spraying with wash water.

It is a common practice in produce packing houses to trim, wash and pack lettuce and the like by providing a row of wash tables, along one side of which the trimmers stand, and along the other side the packers. The produce is sprayed with wash water while on the tables. Field boxes lled with lettuce are brought to the trimmers, who take the lettuce from the boxes, trim 01T the undesirable outside leaves, or other- Wise prepare or select the produce, and place it on the table under the sprays. The packers standing at the opposite side of the table, take the lettuce from under the sprays, sort it, and pack it in packing crates with ice, or do whatever else is required to be done with the washed produce. Under ordinary circumstances one packer can handle the output of about four trimmers, and accordingly there is usually a group comprising four trimmers working at one side of the table and one packer working at the other. This practice has certain disadvantages, however, as the lettuce has to beY moved across the table by hand, which in itself is a time consuming operation, and in so doing both the trimmers and the packer unavoidably encounter the spray water, making working conditions both diicult and uncomfortable.

Primary objects of the present invention are the provision of a wash table or unit equipped with simple mechanical means for moving the produce from the trimmers through the sprays to the packers; and to keep the produce in a position easily available to the packer, mean- While repeatedly Washing it, until the packer picks it up.

A further object is the provision of a produce washing machine which will occupyv substantially no more iloor area than the wasn tables presently in use, and which can accordingly be installed in present produce packing houses with a minimum of disturbance of existing plant facilities and no necessary increase in iloor area.

In accordance` with the present invention, the Wash units are equipped with oppositely rotating turn tables; preferably, assuming four trimmers and one packer assigned to a wash unit, each wash unit has two such turn tables. The

four trimmers deposit. the trimmedA lettuce on the turn tables at one side. of the Wash unit, the turn tables immediately take the lettuce through the sprays, which are preferably hooded over to prevent splashing, and the packer standing at the opposite side of the unit removes the lettuce from the turn tables` as it comes to him after passing through the sprays one or more times. The lettuce or other produce is thus transported across the wash unit without manual effort, and is sprayed in course of transit, without the necessity of either the trimmers or the packer reaching in under the sprays; and the produce is repeatedly passed through the` sprays and presented to the packer until he picks it up. Preierably, sprays may be provided both above and below forarninous turntables, the lower sprays reaching the produce through the mesh of the turntables, so that the produce is thoroughly Washed both top and bottom.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the following detailed description of certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vvertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of a Wash unit in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a is a section on line 3cr-3a. of Fig. 3.;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail section through a spray pipe and spray nozzle;

Fig. 6 is a floor plan illustrating the lay-out and use of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modication;

Fig. 8 is a View generally similar to Fig, 1 but showing a variational form of drive and also certain simplifications in structure;

Fig. 9 is a plan section takenY on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken online lil-I 0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detailed plan View of the turntable shown in Figs. 8 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a detailed vertical section of another form of turntable; and

Fig. 13 is a schematic view illustrative. of the driving arrangement for a row of' units.

A plurality of the wash units of the present invention are adapted to be installed end to end in a row, all driven from a single prime mover. The drawings illustrate only the end unit of such a row, together with a portion of the unit next to it, it being understood that as many such units as desired may be installed and interconnected in the manner to be described. In Figs. 1 and 2, the end unit of the row is designated generally by numeral I0, and the adjacent fragmentarily illustrated unit at II, the two being positioned end to end at a convenient spacing. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the frame of each unit has four legs I2, here in the form of angle irons resting on flooring I3, and welded or otherwise secured at the top to end walls I4 of the structure. These end walls I4 together with inwardly converging sides I5 and a bottom water-return trough I6 form a drainage tank that receives the wash water and carries it` off. For this purpose trough I6 preferably has a sloping bottom, as appears in Fig. 1, and the troughs of adjacent tables are extended and connected as indicated at I1 in Fig; 1, so that the used wash water and soil from the several units of the row flow off via a single, continuous channel. In order to conserve water, this water flowing off by way'of the interconnected troughs I6 may be puried, for recirculation through the later described spray pipes of the apparatus; in

any suitable or known manner, which need not be detailed herein. The spray-catching tank formed by ends I4 and sides I5 is preferably provided with a top I8 which serves not only to prevent pr-oduce from falling within the tank, but also as a convenient stationary table surface. This tank together with the legs I2 form a frame or table structure on which the later described turntables are mounted.

Tank top I8 is formed with one or more, pref erably two, circular openings I9, of a diameter approximately or nearly equal to the width of the stationary table surface afforded by the tank top I8. These circular openings I Qare spaced longitudinally of the tank top, and at comparatively close spacing, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Foraminous turntables 2D are mounted in circular openings IS, each embodying a central hub 2Iv mounted on a vertical drive shaft 22, lradial spokes 23, and a rim 24, together with'a suitable open mesh produce supporting member 25 mounted on spokes 23 and fastened in any suitable manner to hub 2I and to rim 24; rIhe de tailed construction of this foraminous oropen mesh turntable is of course subject to considerable modification, the purpose in this form of the invention being to provide an open mesh or uniformly perforate turntable substantially filling the circular opening in the tank top, which will permit wash water to drain readily therethrough into the tank, and which is of suiiiciently open mesh that spray devices positioned below the turntable will be capable of forcing wash water upwardly therethrough to effectively wash the undersides of the produce on the turntable. It will be understood that although we refer to a tank, it is not to be implied that that element is intended to hold a body of water; it is only intended as a shell or basin to confine and catch the wash water passing through ordropping from the tables, directing the washl water into the drainage trough.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown, turntable drive shafts 22 are provided at the top withibevel gears 3),y which mesh with bevel gears 3| on a single overhead line shaft 32 extending longitudinally of the units I0, II, etc., and understood to be driven'by any suitable prime mover, not shown. Preferably, the drive gear for the turn table shafts 22 is so arranged that the two turntables for each unit turn in opposite directions; in the embodiment here illustrated, this is accomplished by arranging the bevel gears 3I on line shaft 32 to mesh with opposite sides of bevel gears 30 (see Fig. 1). As here shown, line shaft 32 is journaled in line shaft bearings 33 supported by frame structures 34 erected on the ends of the several Wash table units IIJ, II, etc. Each of said frame structures 34, as here shown, comprises a pair of angle members 35 extending upwardly and towards one another from an angle brace 36 welded or otherwise secured to the end wall of the tank at its top edge, the members 35 being joined to member 36 as by welding, and a horizontal top angle member 3l welded to the top ends of members 35. The line shaft bearing 33 at the end of the row of units I0, II, etc. (right-hand end of unit. I0 as viewed in Fig. 1), is mounted directly on top of the aforementioned top frame member 31. Between successive units such as IIJ and II, a mounting plate 38 is secured to top frame members 31 of adjacent units, and secured to said plates 38 are the further line shaft bearings 33, in the arrangement clearly illustrated in Fig. l. This driving arrangement for the several turntable shafts 22 is here described merely as typical; any suitable drive common to the shafts 22 may be used.

The vertical shafts 22 ofturntables 26 extend downwardly below the latter within the drainage tank, each being supported at its lower end by a button type step bearing 45 resting on a supporting plate 4I. Shaft 22 is surrounded above plate 4I by a comparatively long bearing retainer sleeve 42, secured at the bottom, as by welding, to plate 4I, and containing a plurality of anti-friction roller bearings 43 rotatably supporting shaft 22. Sleeve 42 is closed at the top by means of a collar 44, and the rollers 43 rest at the bottom on the rim portion of bearing 4I), which just lfills sleeve 42, all in the arrangement clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Water and dirt are thus kept out of the bearings. g

The supporting plate 4I for bearing 40 and sleeve 42 is secured, asv by screws 48, to a plate 49 welded to'the top side of a water supply pipe 50 which extends longitudinally of the drainage tank just above water'return trough I6. VThe water supply pipes 50 of the several units IIJ, I I, etc., extend through and are supported by opposite end walls I4 of the tank, and are coupled between the units as by means of T-iittingsv 5I (Fig. 1).

Coupled to the projecting end o'f water supply pipe 50, at the` right hand' end 'of unit IDHas viewed in Fig. l, is a riser 52, fromawhich lead a pair of horizontal water spray pipes 53 and 54, disposed below and labove turn-table Y2 6, and located substantially in the longitudinal medial plane of the unit. The lower pipe 53 is located immediately below the pane ofthe turntable, whereas the upper pipe 54 is located suic'iently above the plane of the turntable to provide clearance for the produce carried thereon. The two pipes 53 and 54 are capped at the ends as indicated at 55, andare equipped with longitudinally spaced water spray jets 56, directed' to ward the turn table, which may be" of the lnature shown in Fig. 5. Asjshown in' Fig. 5 each such jet may typically consist f a nipple 51 vScrewed into the spray pipe, and. provided with a longitudinal diseharge passageway 59 discharging against a fiat lefleetor surface 6D, of such a nature as to cause the water to be forcibly ejected in a fiat stream. The flat streams ejected by the several jets form a ver-tical curtain of wash water through which the produce on the turntable must travel. Olne or more rows of the jets may be used in each spray pipe.

i riser 52 similar to riser 52 extends upwardly from the T-fitting in water supply pipe between adjacent units, and supplies pairs of water spray pipes 53 and 5.4, extending in opposite directions into both units I0 and Il, in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus the two turntables of each unit are equipped with a pair of water spray pipes, one above and one below the turntable, extending inwardly from the two ends of the unit; in instances of two units placed end to end, a single riser from water supply pipe 50 is made to serve the water spray devices atthe proximate ends of the two units.

Mounted on each turntable is a vertical cylinder 65, having cylindrical side walls 65 and preferably a top 61, but preferably open at the bottom, top 61 being centrally perforated for the turntable drive shaft 22, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The cylinder is secured to its turntable and rotates' with it. A hood 1U is arranged over each of Athe upper spray pipes 5d, in order to prevent splashing of spray water. This spray conning hood, around the curtains of wash water, is preferable but not necessary. As here illustrated,

the hood comprises a horizontal sheet metal top 1 I, at one end overlying the upper end of cylinder 65, and provided at its opposite end with a vertical back wall 12 secured at its lower edge, as by spot welding, to the upper edge of the end wall 1 4 of the drainage tank, or to the table top I8. The end of top 1I which overlies cylinder 65 may either rest on it or may be supported from the upper shelf 851, hereinafter described. That end of top 1| may serve as a top closure for cylinder 65 if the cylinder has no top wall. As here illustrated, the top 1I of hood 1G is of semi-circular shape at its forward end, conforming to cylinder 65, and may extend on one side of the machine (the packers side) from cylinder toward end wall 12 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the machine, while on the other side (the trimmers side) it preferably extends toward rear wall 12 in an outwardly angled direction, as illustrated in Fig. 3a. The two side edges of top 1l are provided with downturned flanges 13, to which are secured, in any suitable manner, fabric or any suitable flexible drop curtains 15, vertically split at close intervals, as indicated at 15, in order to permit ready passage of the produce. 'As illustrated in Fig. 3, these drop curtains 15 hang preferably to a level just above turntables 20, while the flanges 13 supporting their upper ends are located Suniciently high above the turn tables to afford clearance for the produce. rIhus the hood 10, with its drop curtains 15, together with the cylinder 6,5, effectively enclose the water spray area, and prevents splashing of the spray water, though the split curtains permit free passage of the produce. The angular disposition of the curtain 15 on the trimmers side of the table affords a sufficient opportunity for the produce to move clear of it and for the curtain to drop before the produce reaches the plane of the water sprays. rI he purpose of the cylinders 65 `is to space the produc/e on the turntables away from the central shaft far enough to, insure a good length of produce-travel through the curtained spray zone. Incidentally, the cylinders also keep sprayv water away from the turntable shaft and hub and thus aid somewhat in preventing water running down the shaft and getting into the bearings below. To perform these functions the cylinders can either be stationary, or rotate with the turntables; the latter being preferred.

Preferably, a produce storage pan or shelf 8), extending the length of the machine, is mounted above the two hoods 10, supported by the end framing, 'm the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Secured to the side of the frame along which the trimmers are to stand is a pair of chutes 82 for reception of trimmings and culls, these being preferably positioned conveniently opposite the two turntables, and their lower ends discharging into a trough or channel 83 sunk in iiooring I3 and extending longitudinally of the row of machinres. The refuse so discharged into trough 83 may be carried away by any suitable type of endless conveyer, as indicated at 8d in Fig. 3, or

` by water circulation.

Fig. 6 shows in diagram a floor plan of a double turntable produce washing machine unit such as has been described. Four trimmers stand along one side of the unit in the positions designated at T, facing the chutes ,32, and a single packer stands on the other side of the unit, between the two turntables, in the position designated at P, it being found in practice that. one packer can handle the output from four or more trimmers. Field boxes containing lettuce or other similar produce are carried to and deposited alongside the trimmers side of the unit, adjacent the cull chutes 32, against guard bars |511, as indicated at B. Packing crates C' are placed alongside the table on the packers side, one on each side of the packer, and in back of the packer is the box or chute I lled with the supply of packing ice.

The trimmers take the lettuce from the boxes B, trim it, and deposit it on the two turntables, one of which is in convenient reach of each trimmer. The trimmings are dropped in the cull chutes 82, which are between the two trimmers feeding produce onto each of the two turntables. The two turntables, turning in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows, at preferably about 2 R. P. M., carry the produce so deposited on them under the hoods 1U where it is sprayed with a curtain of wash water, which not only comes down from the spray pipes above, but also, in the form being described upwardly through the open mesh turntables from the spray pipes below. The refuse water drains from the produce through the open mesh turntables into the drainage tank, and is carried off by way of trough I6. The produce having first passed through the curtain of spray water, then moves onwardly to the Dackers side of the unit, and may then be removed by the packer, sorted, and placed in the two packing crates C. The packer will Qrdinarily sort the lettuce into two sizes, to go into the two crates C, packing layers of ice in the crates between layers of lettuce. Odd sizes he may temporarily deposit in the long Shallow storage pan above the turntables, toA be removed and packed in special crates at a later time. If the packer should miss some of the produce on its rst trip around, it will sim-` ply travel around with the turntable, take ane other trip through the water spray, and come back to him again. If he notices that any of the produce is not thoroughly washed, he may simply allow it to take an additional trip through the water spray, or as many trips as may be necessary to clean it properly for packing. As previously mentioned, one packer can just about keep pace with four trimmers; the machine is thus designed for eflicient operation by a squad of five operators-four trimmers and one packer.

Inspection of Fig. 6 will reveal that the washing machine of the present invention occupies no more oor space than would an ordinary Wash table. The machine has the advantage of greatly increased efficiency in transporting the produce from the hands of the trimmers to the hands of the packer, and the further advantage that neither the trimmers nor packer need work in or reach under the sprays. All the produce is transported iirst under the washing spray and then directly to and in front of the packer. No producereaches the packer without being Washed, and all of it on both turntables is concentrated on his position. These advantages in operation flow from the facts that the two turntables of the pair constituting the unit are rotating in mutually opposite directions and that the sprays are located over thosesides of the turntables which are moving in the direction away from the trimmers side toward the packers side. In the particular opposite directions of rotation shown in Fig. 6 (which are the preferred opposing rotative directions) it is the mutually remote sides of the turntables-those adjacent the ends of the unit frame-which are moving from the trimmers to the packers side. Consequently, with those preferred rotative directions, the sprays are located over those remote sides of the tables, rather than over the mutually adjacent turntable sides, near the center of the frame, which are moving from. the packers to the trimmers side of the frame.

Another advantage which applies to all the described forms of the invention, over a long Washing table or travelling belt, is that the trimmers work rests directly opposite them 0n a certain turntable and goes only to a certain packer. The arrangement greatly facilitates supervision of the trimmers work, as the supervisor can denitely locate the production of each pair of trimmers. And the arrangement also gives to each packer an average pack; he cannot pick and choose from a large amount of produce on a table or belt bef-ore him.

Fig. '1 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification in which each of the shafts 22 is equipped with a pair of vertically spaced foraminous turntables. It will be understood that corresponding parts of the machines of Figs. 1 and 7 are identified by corresponding reference numerals, and a description of like parts and features will be unnecessary. It is sufficient to point out that each of the turntable shafts 22 is equipped not only with the lower turntable 20, which may be exactly like the turntable 20 of the previously described form of the invention, but also with a second turntable 90, spaced above turntable 20 and above the upper spray pipe '54 for turntable 20. In this instance, of course, an additional spray pipe 9| is employed, spaced properly7 above upper turntable 90, and a hood 92 is provided for the purpose of enclosing the spray area about the spray pipe 9|. The spray pipe 54 is provided with upwardly directed jets 56 as well as the previously described downwardly directed jets 56, as illustrated, so that the produce on both of the turntables is sprayed from below as well as from above. The provision of this double-deck type of turntable arrangement has several advantages; rst, it of course provides for additional capacity, and second, it enables the trimmers to sort the produce prelim-v inarily, so that the packer may receive produce of one general size or quality on one turntable, and produce of another general size or quality on the other turntable. Or the packer may use the upper turntables, o1' one of them, for temporary deposit of odd sizes.

The form of wash unit shown in Figs. 8-10 is similar in function and operation to the form shown in Figs. l-3. In addition to embodying a different type of drive, which in certain respects is preferred over the previously described over-head type, it also embodies certain renements and simplifications in structure that materially decrease the cost of manufacture and assembly. The unit may readily be assembled and disassembled for transportation in knockdown condition.

Figs. 8 and 13 show an end unit |0a and an adjacent intermediate unit lla, it being understood that any number of intermediate units ||a may be placed end to end to form a row of such units and that the unit at the opposite end of the row will be similar t0 unit |0a. Units |0=a and Ila, however, are similar in every respect except for minor differences such as spraypipe connections, etc., as will be described.

Each unit embodies a frame comprised of two pairs of legs |00 of angle iron, each pair being connected by angle iron cross members |0|, |'02 and |03 suitably attached thereto as by bolts |04. Longitudinal rail members |05 are bolted at |06 (Fig. 10) to the projecting ends of cross members |03. Supply pipe |01, in this instance, is utilized as a. structural member of the frame and serves as a longitudinal member connecting cross members |0I, plates |08, welded to pipe |01 and bolted at |09 to members |0|, providing the connection. The frame is longitudinally braced by diagonal struts ||0 which are bolted, at their upper ends, to cross members |'03 and at their lower ends, to upstanding lugs welded to pipe |01. Adjoining units may be connected by straps ||2 suitably bolted to cross members |03. l

The turn tables, indicated at I5, are in the form of inverted, truncated cones H0, the upper ends of which receive produce-supporting members |1, later to be described. Perforated plates ||8 span the lower openings of the cone and are suitably secured to the cone members as by welding. Projecting downwardly from the centers of plates ||8, and welded thereto, are pivot pins or shafts ||9 that are mounted for rotation in tubular step-bearing members |20 welded to pipes |01. These bearing members are essentially the same as those described in connection with Figs. 1-3, so no further description will be necessary.

Turntables H5, thus mounted for rotation, are driven by an endless chain |22 passing over ring sprockets |23 (centrally apertured) which are bolted at |24 to the under side oi plates ||8. As shown in Figs. 9 and 13, chain |22 passes around one side of one sprocket and thence around the opposite side of the next successive sprocket. At one end of the row of units, the chain passes around a suitably supported return sprocket |24 (Fig. 13) and thence longitudinally of the row oi units to the other end where it passes around another similarly mounted return sprocket (not shown), thence v passing around sprockets |23 as above described. It is obvious that one of the return sprockets, as for instance sprocket |24, may be driven by a prime mover (not shown) and that the other end sprocket would then be an idler. In this manner the turn-tables of each unit are rotated in opposite directions; and, with chain |22 travelling in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs. 9 and 13, that the rotation of the turntables will be away from the center of each unit on the trimmers side and toward the center of the packers side, attention being called to the fact that Fig. 8 is viewed from the trimmers side of the machine while Fig. l is viewed from the packers side.

Chain |22 is preferably supported along its circuitous path by suitable supporting rails such as indicated at |35, |31, |31 and |39. Rails |35, carried by posts 30 extending upright from supply pipes |01, support the chain between the two sprockets of each unit. Rails |31, suitably secured (as by screws) to adjacent cross members |02, support the chain as it passes from the sprocket of one unit to the next successive sprocket of the adjacent unit. The lengths of chain between the outer end sprockets of end units lila and return sprockets |24 are supported by rails |31 mounted on cross members |02. Along its return path (between return sprockets |24), the chain is supported by rails |39 that extend along the full length of each unit, rails |3e being supported and suitably secured (as by screws) to cross members |02. All of the rails may be of channel iron, and the ends-of each are preferably flared, as indicated in the drawings.

Each of the produce-supporting members ||1, above referred to, and here shown as uniformly f-oraminous or perforate, is preferably made up of two sections, a xed section ||1a and a removable section ii'ib (see Figs. 10 and 11). Section ||1a is formed of an outer semicircular member |23 and an inner circular member |21, the two members being connectedby radial rods or spokes |323 fastened thereto as by welding. If desired, section lila may be welded or otherwise secured to the turntable. Section ||1b is formed of inner and outer semicircular members |30 and |31, respectively, which are connected by radial spokes |32. A suitable open mesh or forarninous produce-supporting material |33 covers each of sections ||1ul and ||1b. Section |111) may be separated from secti-on ||1a (as indicated in Fig. 11) and removed in order to provide access to the interior of the turntable,

the purpose of which will later appear. Mountpipes extending oppositely and longitudinally over adjacent turntables i at the adjacent ends of adjoining units. Connected by L-ittings |09 to outer ends of branch pipes |48 are vertical branch pipes |50 that extend downwardly and axially through cylinder |40 freely passing through openings |43 in top walls |42. The lower ends of branch pipes |50 are provided with L- ttings |5| to which are connected branch pipes |52, the latter extending horizontally beneath and parallel to branch pipe |48 and directly beneath the foraminous produce-supporting surface ||1 of the turntables. The free ends of branch pipes |52 are suitably plugged. Branch pipes |43 and |02 are provided with spray jets |53 directed toward the produce-supporting surfaces, the jets being of the form shown in Fig. 5.

rihe outer ends of supply pipes |01 of units |0a are provided with ttings |45', one of these ttings serving as a coupling to couple pipes |01 with a source of water supply, as indicated at |53, and the other fitting (not shown) serving as a cap. Risers |43', connected to these fittings, are provided at their upper ends with L-fittings |31' to which are connected branch pipes |48', |50 and |52', similar to the above described branch pipes.

Arranged over each of the upper horizontal branch pipes M20-4&8 is a hood |60 made of sheet metal and comprising an end wall IGI and a top wall |32. End wall |6| is flanged along its vertical edges for stiiening purposes and is provided at its lower edge with a foot portion |03 by means of which it is suitably secured, as by bolting, to cross member |03 of the frame. Near its upper edge, end wall |`6| is apertured at |34 to pass branch pipe |48 (or |48). The side edges of top wall |62, which extends over branch pipe M0, are upwardly anged at |05, these flanged edges lying in vertical planes substantially tangent to vertical cylinder |40. Continuing downwardly from the free end of top wall |62 is a vertical end wall |56 that is apertured at |61 to receive the free end of branch pipe |48. Welded to the lower edge of end wall |06 and arranged immediately above top wall |42 of cylinder |00 is a horizontal plate |38 that is centrally apertured at |63 to closely receive the upper end of vertical branch pipe |50, plate |68 serving as a cover for the upper end of cylinder From an inspection of the hood structure thus far described, it will be seen that end wall |6I, encircling branch pipe |48, supports the upper end of riser |03 (and the branch pipes connected thereto) against displacement transversely of the machine. Likewise it will be seen that the riser and connected branch pipes are held against displacement longitudinalll7 of the machine by the engagement of plate |33 with vertical branch pipe |50. The free end of the hood structure is preferably supported by branch pipe 03 engaging end wall |00 in order that plate |08 may be spaced slightly above top wall |42 of cylinder |40 and accordingly may not act to retard free rotation of the associated turntable.

Flexible drop curtains |10, suitably slit as described in connection with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, are arranged to engage and depend from flanges |05 of top wall |62 of the hood. The lower edges of the curtains hang at a level just above the produce supporting surface, and the curtains thus conne the water that splashes from the produce as it passes between spray jets |53. The curtains are arranged in plan in the same relative placement as has been described in connection with Fig. 2.

Water that drains from the produce and the foraminous produce supporting surfaces drops into cone shaped pans IIS of the turntables and drains therefrom through the perforations in plates |'I8 .and the central openings in ring sprockets |23. Circular screen members ||8a are preferably placed over the perforations in plates I I8 for the purpose of catching any produce material that might pass through the foraminous produce supporting members. Positioned directly beneath plates ||8 and sprockets |23 and suitably supported by bearing members |20 are drain pans |'I0 that drain laterally into a drain trough I'II extending the full length of the row of units and suitably supported by cross members ISI, blocks |12 being interposed between trough III and cross members to properly slope the trough. Any water that may splash over the peripheral edges of the turntables, within the confines of hoods |60, is caught by sloping drain troughs |13 which are mounted at |14 on end walls ISI of the hoods and which are of a width, at their upper ends, substantially equal to the width of the end walls. Drain troughs |13 taper downwardly and empty into pans |10.

The form of cull chute shown in Fig. l is somewhat simpler in construction than the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cull chute |80 (Fig. 10) comprises a sloping trough shaped member provided with hook shaped arms |8| secured to the side walls |82 of the chute. Arms |8| merely hook over rail |05 and thus support the chute. A counterweight |83 is fastened to the chute near its lower end (and to the right of rail |05 as viewed in Fig. l0) so as to maintain the chute in an upright position with its lower end in engagement with the floor. Thus, the chute may conveniently be slid along rail |05 to any desired position, or it may be pushed inwardly toward the wash unit whenever such movement is desired.

The variational form of turntable shown in Fig. l2, which may be preferred for the washing of certain kinds of produce, is similar to the form shown in Figs. 8-10 with the exception that the produce supporting surface is non-foraminous. As shown in this form, the tables need not be foraminous or perforate, as the water may ow off over their surfaces. Instead, a circular sheetmetal, produce supporting platform |85 is mounted within cone-shaped pan IIB and is slightly dished to provide for drainage. Vertical cylinder |40 is mounted over the central opening Illia` in the platform and is perforated or notched at |81 at its lower end to pass the water that drains from the platform. When using this form of turn-table, branch pipes |50 and |5|, and screen |812 are removed from the unit, and branch pipes |48, only, are used for washing the produce. Y

We have now described certain specific means for carrying our invention into practical eiTect; it is to be understood, however, that this is for illustrative purposes only and that various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a produce washing machine, the combination of an elongate frame having one side accommodating trimmers and an opposite side accommodating a packer, a pair of turntables mounted to rotate about vertical axes on the frame and longitudinally spaced from each other, the turntables being rotatable in a substantially common horizontal plane, means for rotating the turntables in mutually opposite directions such that the peripheral movements of the two turntables at the packers side of the frame are toward each other and toward the center of the frame, and means creating a curtain of spray tor each turntable extending radially of the tables from their central portions outwardly in opposite directions toward the ends of the frame.

2. In a produce washing machine, the combination of an elongate frame having one side accommodating trimmers and an opposite side accommodating a packer, a pair` of turntables mounted to rotate about vertical axes on the frame and longitudinally spaced from each other, the turntables being rotatable in a substantially common horizontal plane, means for rotating the turntables in mutually opposite directions such that the peripheral movements of the two turntables at the packers side of the frame are toward each other and toward the center of the frame, and means creating a curtain of spray for each turntable extending radially of the tables from their central portions outwardly in opposite directions toward the ends of the frame; each said rotatable turntable comprising a periorate produce-carrying top and a lower conical drainage basin.

3. In a produce washing machine, the combination of an elongate frame having a side accommodating trimmers and an opposite side accommodating a packer, a pair of turntables mounted to rotate about vertical axes on the frame and longitudinally spaced from each other, the turntables being rotatable in a Substantially common horizontal plane, means for rotating the two turntables in mutually opposite directions so that peripheral movements of the adjacent sides of the two turntables at the center of the frame are in a direction from one side of the frame toward the other side of the frame, and peripheral movements of the relatively remote sides of the two turntables adjacent the ends of the frame are in directions from the said other frame side toward the said one frame side, and means creating a curtain of spray for each turntable extending radially of the tables from their central portions outwardly in opposite directions toward those sides of the .turntables which move in the direction from the trimmers frame-side to the packers frame-side; all so that all produce deposited upon the two turntables at the trimmers side must pass through the sprays before being carried by turntable rotation to the packers side of the frame.

LELAND H. PLATT. LELAND H. PLATT, JR. 

